Automobile curtain



May 3, 1927.

w. H. PRITCHETT AUTOMOBI LE C URTA I N 3 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Auz. 5. 1925 gri/vento@ if) iff/XFN' fda e y w. H. PRITCHETT AUTOMOBILE CURTAIN Filed Aue, 3 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 nwntoc awww.

May 3' 1927' w. H. PRlTcHETT AUTOMOBILE CURTAI N .3 Sheets-Sheet C5 Patented May 3, 1927.

WILLIAM PRITCHETT, F SAN DIEGO. CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMOBILE CURTMN.

Application filed August 3, 1925. Serial No. 47,947.

My present invention relates to improvements in automohile eurtain arrangementsintended t'or use more partieularly with ears ot' standard type known as touring ears and more espet'ially with the very large numlier ol' sut'h ears of the eheaper make, such as Fords, ltlodpes. or theI like.

The tendent-y to stamlardization oliservalrle in most of thi` larger industriesy has not always heen followed with regard to the ap plieation :nd use ot' the enrtains tor antoY mobiles, and some of the curtains now sold apparently require that the ear should he huilt' to tit the curtain rather than that the enrta'in should he made to tit' the ear.

Most touring ears are suhstantiall)v similar in general eharaeteristies1 in that the)y :i provided with rertain arrangements ot' swinginghows t'or the tops and rertain attachments are herein provided to he applied to these s\viii; rin; T hows or other parts ot the automobile ot' standard type, to permit the quielt appliration to, and renioval of. my improved automohile eurtaini-1, as will he hereinafter deserihed.

ll'ith most ot the arrangements now in use, the curtains, when not in use, are folded up and stored away under the seat in suth a way that the),Y are soon worn out or broken or otherwise injured. and when it is desired to use sante. it is neressary to hreak out the rurtains. get on thi` outside of the ear, fre- Jniemly in the rain, and applyv same.

Moreover. eu'rtains are Frequently so mounted :is to render it ditl'it-ult for the ehauti'eur to malte the usual hand signals. Moreover` with the eurta'in seeuretv fastened in the usual way, it is in some Cases dittieult, and sometimes dangerousn t'or the oeeupants ot' the rar, in rase :i speedy exit trom the nar heeomes neeessaijv. as in ease ot aceident. or more espeeially getting into deep water.

My invention is primnriil,v intended to provide a t'stem ot' rurtains, eomprising the following' advantages:

First: lt provides :i seenre position in n hielt lo stortthe rui-trains. when not in use. without detarhinp; the eurtains from the :iutoniolzile. This` storalege position is sueh that tle eisrluins ma)v he misil)v and tpiivltly lowered trom sut-l porition into the position Yt'or proteetinir the oerupa'nts of the rar from wind :ind rain. ll'ith my s vetem ot eurtainsl this operation may he perfo 'ined in a t'ew seeonds hy the oeeupants ot the car without leaving` the seats.

Seeond: This system of curtains is much more simpe in eonstruetion than the system or s ixstems now in `oeneiw'tl use. This system ot' eurtains: een therefore he mannt'aetm'ed mueh more cheaply.

Third: This system eliminates the necessitj.Y of imtnutatture of upright rods non7 used. in the system ot Curtains now in vogue. t'or supporting' that portion of the ein-tain whieh "opens with the door. These uprifrht rods are ditlifxult and expensive to manufacture, as each door requires a rod espeeially shaped and properly bent for that partit-nier door, The rods are not interchangeahle and heilig quite similar in appearante arer very confusing and annoyingr to the motorist who has oeeasion to pnt up his eurtains in a hurry. Also, special and expensive soeltets must he provided in'eaeh door for the upright rod ot' that door.

Fourth: The t'olded :rnd setured position ot the curtains is an excellent position tor permanent storage of the Curtains when not in use. A\t the same time, the curtains are in position to he instantly put in use without the neeessity ot letting them out from miner the seat. or out of the enrtain pocket. as is neeessary with the systems now in use.

liitth: ln this system, the curtains hang, and a'iways remain` in a smooth and even position. thus` presentingv a neat and tidy appearanee whit-h is far superior to the m1- even. lretlraggrletl. and ragged appearance assumed atter short usage hy the average eurtain now in use on open automobiles.

Sixth: This system of eurtains can he lowered and snapped in position without the neeessity ot' removing the side wings, now eommonl)v used. whieh are clamped to the uprights on hoth sides of the windshield. ln all earswhieh are not furnished with side wingsl h v the manutaeturers, the side wings must he removed het'ore the forward eurtains furnished with the ea'r can loe put up.

Seventh: 'l'wo wires are the only installation netessarv to install 'this system of enrtiins on :in v touriirer automobile regardless of make. The posts already installed in all n1.- .tes of' ears. tor the puri'iose ot supiiiorting; the rurtains. may he used for this system. The excess of posts may loe removed, a nd the position of one or two posts only, on tome mrs. would have to he changed.

Eighth: The curtain rods Which are provided t'or hoth upper and lower edges of all curtains ot this system. cause those edges ltlfi fifi of the eurtainsA to lie smoothly and snugly against the surfaces to which they are attaehed` The upper rods also lessen the inunher of supporting fasteners whieh would otherwise he required.

These and other advantages of my inten tion will be more t'ullyv understood after retierenee to the aeeoinpanylug drawings, in whieh like parts4 are indicated b v similar referenee symbols throngjl'iout the several views` and in whieh:

Fig. l shows a side elevation of a touring; ear ot standard maltel` with in) system ot curtains applied thereto and in the lowered and secured position:

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatitl view showing the hows ot the touring ear with the wires Seeured thereto, the hows being in the normal position when the top is up;

Fig. 3 is an exterior view on a` larger seale ot the three Curtains used on eaeh side ot the ear. but detached troni the ear, and laid ont with the parts overlapping;

Fig. 4 shows a transverse section through the root of the ear and illustrates the manner in whieh the curtains are i'olded up into the stored position and ont o't` the way. This view shows diagraminatieally a section along; the line lul-4t of Figi. l. and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. shows a longitudinal seetion along the line ot Fig. Q. and lookingr in the direetion ot the arrows, and illustrates one mode of attaching the wire to the bows.

larts of the automobile trarne are omitted for the sake of elearness in the drawings.

Figs. 6 and T are detail views showing in t'ront and side elevation the hooks and straps for holding the eurtains in place, when not in use;

ln the drawings the eurtains on one Side of the rar onl)v are shown in detail` as those on the other side ot the ear would be suhstantiallwv identical. exeept that the curtains would he made rights and let'ts in the usual well known way.

represents the automobile bod)v of an ordinary touring ar provided with the usual front doors and rear doors A2. which are hinged as at n and fr?. and are inovided with the usual handles a and (L4. The top D ot the autonwl'iile extends hetween the windshield traine ll and the rear portion (il ot tht` automobile. whieh partsA ll and (l are of the usual or any preferred Yform and will not be further deseribed.

The top D is preferably ol standard eonstruetion, iuovided with the usual bows Fi. l. E2 and ll shown diagrammatieally in plan in Fig. Q. whieh hows are eonneeted to the automobile in the usual wa \Y and permit the top to loe raised or lowered. as is well known in the art.

Connectingr these hows are the wires F and F', which are ordinarilwY the only additional features required h v my system in applying: the system o t eurtaius to automobiles ot well known inalijes. These wiresl may be eon ueeted to the bows in any eonvenienty way, sueh tor insta nre. as shown in detail in Fig. 5, where one of' the wires F has its end f fastened to the t'ront how lil as at f. and passing' over thi:` bow is looped around the set-oud how Fi as at and .tay he aeeured n plaee as by a staple yfi". ln a similar wav, he wires loop around the third bow E2 at ft and is held in piave by the staple fi', and tinallwv the rear end is pau-ed around the rear bow ll as at f and is srzured thered to b'v the staple f7. (lne or more turns of the wire ma)Y he made around the bow or the wire may he otherwise fastened to the bow, it desired.

The automobile top may be provided with the usual padsr (l. at the upper bends thereot' as shown in Fig. Vl, and beneath these pads the curtains are folded up and held in plaee when not in use` as shown in Fig. it. There are two sets ot' curtains, one for earh side ol the rar. one set only` that for the lett hand lside ot' the rar looking; forward, ot which shown in Figs. l and il, the cui tainsy on the opposite side being praetieally the saine. but with the parts reversed, ol'

eonrse.

For anyv ordinariY touring' ear, the curtain arrangement 't'er oaeh side ot'Y the ear consists ot three separate rurtains.y the t'roiit' eurtains ll. the renter eurtains ll. and the rear eur tains H2. These Curtains may be provided with illuminating panes. niade ot eellnloid. niiea. or plete glass. it desired9 surh as /iy and 7i. whieh panes are spared apart so as to perniit the eurtain to he 't'olded between the saine. along the lines` 'LL-2. tot. T--7, and 8--8.

liael t'ront i' with eurtain rod.-` bottoni. see Fin:

lil is ,drown as prm'ided and l at the` top and.

l wtiieh eurtain r-'uts etitrnd onliv part ot he length olb the curtain. so as to permit the enrtain to be t'olded in ward and haelt upon itsrllthe told being; Iliade alongF the linzl 2*2. rl'he absenee ot rurtain rods forward ol' the line 2--2 enable4 the t'orward portion oll the eurtain il to tale the rounding; vorher ot the l'-';rr.'.ird end ot the top ot the u lt'u'riuy.' ear. The t'ront eurtain is otA iA lar shape. having.' the t'orward projet-tion to go around :he t'ront of the ear as will be hereinat'ter der seribed.

The eenter eurtain ll if preterabl-v reetangrular in ,diane and is provided with top and bottoni rod.`y li' and lit: the toruier e;- tendine1r the l'ull length ot' the rurtain while the latter is about iin-hm yshorter than the. curtain. The rear eurtain il is hown as trapezaoidal haring the top and bottoni eurtain rods .T4 and l5; the former extendingT the tnll length ot the eurtain top. while the latllt.)

it o

ltltl l tf1 lili! (ifi ter is 2 inches shorter than the lower edge of the curtain as shown in Fig. 3. All curtain rods are preferably made of hand iron or steel. of suhstantialljY rectangular cross section, and more or tlat. The upper curtain rods of the center and rear curtains, H and H2 of Fig. 3. extend the Vfull length of the upper edges of tho fe curtains` These rods serve the purpose of holding` the curtain rigid and smooth throughout its` length and reduce the number of supporting` fastoners, necessaryT to hold the cu tain in place, to two. one fastener being' placed under each end of each upper curtain rod.

The lower curtain rods l and I of the center and rear curtainsl H and H2, Fig. Si, terminate about 2 inches in rear of the front edges of those curtains respectively. ThisI in order that the lower curtain rod of the curtain next in front. in each case. shall not tverlap the curtain rod of the curtain next in rear but will form one continuous and smooth line on the side of the car. when the curtains are fastened in the, lowered position, as shown in Fig. l. .\.ll curtain rods are permanently scwed into heme` on the edges of the curtains.

The rear edge of the forward curtain H. Fig. 3, is secured on the same fasteningr posts at p2 and M, as the forward edf-1e of the center curtain ll which it overlaps. Similarly. the rear cdg'c of the center curtain H is secured on the same fasteningr posts at p3 and M as the forward edge of the rear curtain H2 which it overlaps.

Flach curtain is provided just below the ends of the curtain upper rod with Litt the-Dot" fasteners j, p3 and p4 adapted to engage the metallic posts Il. see Fie. t, This fastening arrangement being' well known in the art. and now conanonlv iii-ed, will not be further described. rl`he same type of fastener is preferably used throughm out my system of curtains` The front curtain is provided with fas* teners t. la and to c tirage corresponding metallic posts on the framework of the left edge of the windshield and with the fas tener adapted to engage a post on the lower edge of the windshield frame while the rear curtain is provided with a similar fastener to fasten the rear edn'e thereof.

The Yfastener '3 of the forward curtain ll. Fig. L engages the post L. Fin. 2. on the inside of corner curve of top.

It will be noted that the `fastener posts at` the positions p2, fr". M and fd will necessaril)Y be of double length in order to acconnnon date two curtain fasteners on each of these posts. Single length poi-lts nur v bc used in each of these positions. provided another single length post is placed inst in rear of each of these positions: in which aise. it would he neeesfarfvv to move the fasteners of the forward edge of center and rear curtains to corresponding positions on these two curtains. The advantage in so doingr would he a shorter protruding post on the side of the car at the positions M and M Fig. l. when the curtains are not in use. Also, looth lower corners of the center curtain H will be autoinaticalltv rclea ed hy the outward swiner of the door AL.

'l'hc lowe and rca r corners of the curtains Vlil and ll are provided with reinforcing)r patches h4. as there is contact between the curtains and the upper rear corners of thev doors at this point in the operation of open ing the doors.

'll'he rear curtain is slotted as at /r to pass over the hinge between the two rear hows.

llach curtain is provided with supporting straps kll having one end L- eWed to the curtain and the free end provided with a hook Q adapted to pass over one of the wires F or li". The three curtains overlap from front to rea as shown in Figs. l and 3.

V\\'hen not in use. the curtains are folded up out of the wav, as shown in Fig. l. where the hook Q is shown as engaging' the wire F. ln this position all of the curtains are neatljv folded inside of the top of the cal' and lie surowtlilj.Y and sniugl)v linst under the pads (l on both sidesl of the car. ln this position. the curtains are invisible to a person standing outside of the car. Each curtain is securely held in this position hy its straps l. Fifa: i. ln this position. the curtains pre `en` a smooth neat appearance and are entirelyv out o" the wa)` of the occupants of the car. 'there is also no pressure or friction which would tend to breahl or wear tht` parts or injure the panes regardless of thc material used in manufacture.

From the folded and secured position shown in Figi'. l the operation of lowering` the curtains to the position shown in Fig. l is as follows;

Beginning: with the forward curtain. the driver releases the hooks Q of the straps R of this curtain, allowing th(` curtain to fall to the vertical position. llc then unfolds forward that portion of the curtain forward of the line t. 2 Fig. il. lle now r-aecures the fastener 'f' Fig'. it on the fastener port L Fic. :2. .lle then extends his left hand under the curtain and around the left side of the windshield and secures the fasteners and T in the order named. to their respective posts. llc then releases the hooks Q of the center curtain Il. Fin. il. allowing that curtain to fall to the vertical position, lle now secures the fastener ofthe lower forward corner of the center curtain onto the double length post al )l Fig. l. pushing the Vfastener well down on the post. lle now extends his hand heta'een the overlappiiuf edifcs of the forward and center curtains H and H. Fig. il. and secures the `fastener of thc lower rear corner of the forward curlit) lun

ltlfi lill) [ill tain onto the Same douhle length poqt with, lint on top ol'` the fastener ot' the` lower lorH ward ('orner ot tho Center enrtziin ll'. The hooks Q. of the rear enrtziin H2 nre now eine ilnrly released h r the oeenpzlnt ot' the reni' feat. The enrtnin tulle. into tht` rertieiil position und the fasteners ot the loner edge `(ire seenred over their renpeetire portingy the lower ti'irwiird fastener heine' pnelnl well down on the donol'A lengrth po t :it il Fig. l. rthe low-er reni' .lautener ot' the eenter enrtain is now :ieenl'ed on the lnine donlile length post hy extendingr the hnnd hetween thc` orerlzipix'iingl portions olE the eenez' ard rear enrtziinn in the sinne nmnner :is deserihed tor the lower reni' taint/ener ol t forward enrtziin.

The enrtnins hein;r in the lowered itiositiozi l "l' t Y A' 1 Shown in F151. l, the operation ot raising the enrtziimy to the folded :ind eeeured positivo shown in Fig. 4 is :1S follows:

The oeenpnnt ol' the rein' Sentr opens the reni' door in the iisnzil niiinner. This :fintomntieally releases the lower reni' kfastener M Fig. 3. ot' the eenter curtain. no will he hereinn ttor n'iore full)r tn\'.plninel. 'lfhe t'netenerii of the lower edgeI ot the reel' exn't'nin nre now released hy the oeeupent olf the reni' sent extending: hi.\y zn'ni orf-r the refir door and rearward tothe l'astenerR4 on the onnlioe ot the ren' enrtnin. The ren' enrtnin in then t'olded in three `toldo troni the hottom edge inward und npwzu'd. the told;` heingl nnnle on the line` (Pit, T T, :ind S-S.Fig. ft. The hooks Q of the :drops lt nre now ple-.eed over the` wirt` F ne hown zit the lett side ot Fig, l. The tront door Fifi. l. non.' opened. thn :intoihntieatlljv i'elenfongl' thi` low er rear 'tzistener ot the forward enrtziin. 'l` lower forward Vfastener of the eenter enrt'niu is then released nud the eenter enrtnin is t'olded nnd seenred in the lnine manner its explained tor the rem' enrtnin. 'l`he driver now extends his lett :xrin under the` t'orwnrd enrtziin l'l. Fig. 3. and release;` the los-- tenere Zi?. and ZA in the order minted. yl`he lnetener 1 is :doo reiused. rl`he torwdrd portion ot' the forward enrtoin l'l is now folded inwnrd :ind i'eiirwnrd on the rei'- tiezil line fmi. Fie'. CB. The entire 'ni'tnii now folded und sieenred in the Sinne ninnner ne explziined for the reni' enrtziin. I i'noriding the went' pntehes /11 tr, shown. the eorner ot'v the enrtziin is proteeted against heiiig; nenrred or worn hy the, eontaiet hetw'een the (borner ot llie door find thin` portion ol' lli" "nrtnin ineident, to the nntonnitio nntnsn tellin?"Y o'tl the rune when the door is opened.

The "ilitt--thrwllot` tnnteners ot the lower reni' eornerfa4 ot' the t'orwnrd and renter enr tnine plzn'ed on thefse, enrt'inw with the "dot" portion ot the 'tzieteners :idizteent to the lower curtainsy rode. lllien the enrtzlins tire in the lowered position shown in Fig. 1, the rods in the lower edges ot".theso curtains l tip lie flaty against the sides of the doorS, The nietiillie posits; on which these lnritenerf are eenred ire pinned on the hotly ot' the enr linf--t in reni' olI the rein' edgjew4 ot the doors A :tud 2, Figi. l. ."rny outward .iwingY ol the door will therefore posh the lower enrtnin todi ontwzird :ind npwio'd. thusy relewing; the 'l".: teners troni the fastening posh sind thus nominatie-.dlr releasing; the lower rein.' eor new` o l the two rurtilin with the veri' slight opening` ot the doors. The enr fein heing tlnr-` :iutoinntiwnllj,1 rel-ezr ed li the opening: ot the door, the oeeupnut otl either Sent` ot the enr only pans ont ot' the ein' onder the nuttin. pnhing the enrtztin ontwnrd and :is he power: ont'.

The outward swing ot' the doo'el :intoYY nuxtienlly releases only one oI thf` fastener on the lower edge ol eneh enrtnin. e'tniil experiment' provee1 that thin` nllow the eurtuin to open sntlieientl)y to :illow the oeenpzint to posh' ont o t" the 'a r; however, the oeenpzint noir pins ont` with grrenter t'iieilit)v h v extend ing his` or her7 :trio under the lower edge ot' the pzn'tinllj.' relee'teei'l enrtziin and relez-ising the other l`n--tener ol the lower edge of the enrtosn, Tine will :illow tho entire enrtzun d o'titwin'd :ind npwnrd to he pnht hy the ,-twnpzint in pziewing ont of the Tin'.

liliel the oeenpiint rfi-enters the een', the

door i.--' ewnnj; to in The usual innnner :ind the low-er r' 1r eornerhA of the t'orrnrd and eenter enrtniir.`l :1re eeenred in the suine nnnr ner :in explained in the operation ot lower insg' the curtains.

it will he eeen that l provide nn nrr'fing@ nient h r whieh the enrtiiins4 muy he eonvenientlj; :tored while in transit without liaY liilit)v otl injuring' the .Quino :1nd may he qniehly pnt in phn'e tor proteetire purposesl ind duiehl) retnrnef'l to tho initial l'iosition, :ill without t'letziehing the hezidn` o the enr mim.' t'roin the rehiele. lt will also ho Seen thi: h i.' the herein deserilied arrangement, the openingy o'll either door ol the enr will iintonnttiezilly release n lower eorner ot' the ndjneent enrtnin 21nd will permit the tree eurenI ot :in r or :ill ol' the oeenpitntii ot the ein'. lt will lie noted that the doorn :ind it: hown in Fig. l. :1re lioth hinged on tho Vtor wird edge. Thi# in the enetoin in prin',n tieiill)v all umher; ol' cnrs now in une, howei'ei'. :i t'ew earA linie the rein' doors hinged :it the rein' edge otl the door. My system oi' enrtziinfiis easily udripted to use on :in aintoinohilo on whieh the ren." door A nro hinged on the reni' edge. ln thiI ezine tho renter enrtztin would eorer onl)v the :ipilee loetween tho trent door :ind the l'effir door. lt ist only neeeilnniy, in :ill einen, that the enrtnin eorerinj,Y the door shall hure the Yi'iirteiiei' poid' ot' the lower eorner otl the enrtuin on the hody ot the 'n' :nljneent to thev opening edge ot the door.

The map faeteners need for fastening the itil) lil) iii

curtains will ordinarily be found in use on touring ears of standaid malte and are commercially known as the Lift-tlieDot7 fastener. The only novel feature that will he neeeaeary to add to the oar .to (barry out my herein desrrihed system will lie the two overhead wiresA lt` and It", which can he readily put in place at any time after the ear has been completed or even after it haa heen delivered to the puiriiasser.

It will he seen that the turtainal are of Sini` ple eonstruetion and may he made ol' eheap materials. if so desired, or may he made in a very elaborate way, using plate glass, for the panes. and higherl grade uiaterialrs, but the invention is piimarily intended to pro vide a eheap. etiieient. eonyenient and durahle eut-tain arrangement for low prieed ears.

lVhile l have deerrilied'the preferred emhotlimeut ofthe inveutioii. it will he obvious that Varioue4 ehangeay might he made therein, which eould he need without departing from the Spirit ot' my invention and I do not mean to limit my invention to ,aut-h detailfaY except as pointed ont in the elainis.

Vlflaving thue: deaerihed my invention. what l elaim and desire to secure lijivliettei` latent of the llnited Statey ia:

1. An automobile eurtain comprising a side eurtain suspended from the upper portion of the 'vehiele and adapted to Swing out 'arde at the hottom` a rod se eured along the lower edge of said ein-tain. and a snap fastener connecting a lower corarrangement ner of Said rurtain to the frame of the car adjaeent the opening edge 0f a swinging door, and adapted to lie automatically disengaged when the door strikes Said rod incident to the operation of opening the door, auhstantially as deserihed.

2. An automobile curtain arrangement. eonipriaing a side Curtain suspended from the upper portion ofthe vehicle and adapted to swing onft\'fard,-` at the bottom7 a rod Seeured along the lower edge of Said curtain, and a Suap fastener eonneeting a lower corner ol' Iaid eurtain to the frame of the ear adjaeeut the opening edge of a swinging door. and adapted to lie automatically dis engaged when the door .ati-ikea said rod in eident to the operation ot' openingy the door, with a weai patth eeeured to said eurtain in the region engaged hy aaid door in openn ing. ,'nlietantially as deeerilied.

it. .tu automobile curtain arrangement eomprising a ,aide eurtain suapended from the upper portion of the vehicle and opening outwardl at the liottom7 and a Snap iafttener eonneeting a lower edge of said 'uvtain adjaeent the opening edge of a \.'-;inginfj door; and adapted to he automatit-:ally tlieengtzgetl ineident to the operation oi' openingl the doot. with a wear pateh seeured to aid eurtain in the region engaged hy said door in ol'ieuing` substantially as delffrihetl.

'VILLIA M H PRITCHETT. 

